Coach's Take: West Jefferson Coach Marcus Scott talks prospects

West Jefferson is not lacking in athletes. (File / The Times-Picayune)

The West Jefferson Buccaneers are off to a good start for the 2012 season with a 4-1 record. The driving force for the Bucs is Head Coach Marcus Scott and the talent-rich roster he possesses. The team is led by 2013 stars: TE Duke Riley (Southern Mississippi-commit), CB Parry Nickerson (Tulane-commit), ATH Ronald Lewis (Arizona State-commit), WR Devin Scott (University of Louisiana) and D’aquin Withrow, (University of Louisiana).

It is not just the 2013 prospects that have many people around the program clamoring with excitement. Coach Scott has done a good job grooming the young players in the program and it should pay off for the foreseeable future. The Bucs have just begun district play, but figure to be a major threat down the stretch and into the playoffs. Coach Marcus Scott sat down to elaborate on some of his prospects in this week’s edition of Coach Speak.

Coach Scott: "He is a versatile player. He can play multiple positions on the offense and even some defensive back. At receiver you can line him up inside or outside. His ability to do a little bit of everything is one of his biggest attributes. The staff at Arizona State was at Tulsa and then went to Pittsburgh. They stayed in touch with him everywhere they moved."

Coach Scott: "His junior year he played safety for us but this year he playing corner. He is a pure corner without a doubt. He excels in man coverage and zone coverage because he has really good hips and instincts. At Tulane I foresee him having a good career. It is a great fit for him especially when he gets in a weight room and puts some work in."

Coach Scott: "I think he is more of a tight end on the next level, but once he gets to a college program he could play a number of positions. Tight end, offensive line or even defensive end are all positions I could see him play at. As a tight end he has great hands, he can block, he is athletic and he can do some one on one stuff. Riley is just a solid player."

Coach Scott: "Devin qualified for the Junior Olympics this year running a 47.73 in the 400 meters. In the 200 meters he ran a 21.30. He is also the state indoor long jump champion jumping a 23 feet 10 inches. But he is a football player. While he plays outside for us he could learn how to play inside. I know he plans on running track in college too though."

Coach Scott: "This is only his second year of playing football for us. He has been playing basketball but last he played guard and this year we moved him to tackle. He is very raw, but has great feet and after some development, he could be really good. In the end he could be 300 pounds and he won’t even look the same. A redshirt may do him a lot of good because it would allow him to develop."

2014:

Bruce Houston: WR,5-10 180

Coach Scott: “Bruce is a lot like Ronald. You can move him just about anywhere. This is only his first year playing so he could really blossom. He hasn’t really played since middle school. Whether it is at slot receiver or tailback he can make plays. Right now he seems most comfortable in the slot and once he develops he should be a BCS type prospect.”

Two more prospects Andre Osther, OL, 6-3 250 Germain Hall: WR, 5-10 175 also drew the praise of their coach as players that should develop into college players.

2015: Louis Wings, DT, 6-1 270

“I think if he could just get another two inches he is definitely a BCS kid, which he should because he is only 16. He is really quick and strong. Louis has a good first step and can move. Once he learns how to consistently use his hands, he is going to be a handful. When it is all said he done, he could be a really good prospect.”

2016:

There are also two freshman players that Coach Scott also has really high hopes for in Coley Ransom, QB, 6-2 170 and Aaron Kent: DL, 6-3 230. Both are young prospects with a lot of upside and the time to develop.

Coach Scott: “Right now Aaron is playing defensive end or the 3-technique defensive tackle for us. On the junior varsity team he even plays some tight end for us. I am not sure he won’t be an offensive lineman once he fully develops. He and Coley (Ransom) have all the measurables so we will likely take them to a bunch of camps. In two years Ransom should be 6-4 or 6-5.”